Texarkana, Arkansas is in the market for a new boss at city hall thanks to action taken by the city's governing directors. More >>

Texarkana, Arkansas is in the market for a new boss at city hall thanks to action taken by the city's governing directors. More >>

TEXARKANA, AR (KSLA) -

After months of heated discussions, the Texarkana Arkansas city board has made it official: Former City Manager Harold Boldt is now back on the job.

The appointment was made during a 3-hour board meeting Monday night. But not without some grumbling from those who disagreed with the decision. "The biggest bunch of idiots I have ever seen," muttered one observer leaving the meeting Monday night.

Boldt was fired back in March, and given $162,000 in severance pay.

His return as City Manger comes after a 4-3 vote by the board on September 5. Monday night, the board approved a $111,000 per year contract.

It's divided the city's 7-member board of directors. None were willing to comment after Monday's meeting.

But Mayor Wayne Smith, an outspoken opponent of Boldt was willing to comment, saying that it's time to re-unite the board. "The board will continue to be split for a while. I think we will have to begin to trust each other again."

That, in spite of his assertion that bringing Boldt back is "like putting a fox in the henhouse."

For his part, Boldt says he didn't appreciate the mud-slinging, "and you didn't see me slinging it, either. I'm a pretty forgiving guy."

As he prepared to return to the old office Tuesday morning, Boldt said he intends to try to work with all of the board members, and that he appreciates the ones that voted to bring him back.

He also says he plans to give $50,000 of his salary back to the city, because "it's not about the money." That amount is the difference between the severance pay and his newly approved salary.

As for the 4 board members that voted to bring Boldt back, a petitions are being circulated to have them recalled.